Higher than usual turnout reported on Election Day

BATON ROUGE - Election officials reported busier voting traffic than normal in East Baton Rouge Parish as more people turn out to vote this midterm election.

The EBR Registrar of Voters said turnout seemed higher than usual, and the Secretary of State's office said they expect similar results statewide. A spokesperson said they're estimating between 50 and 53 percent of the state's registered voters will cast ballots in this election, based on historical data and ealy voting records.

That's higher than the average turnout for a midterm, which is around 45 percent in Louisiana, but lower than the 68 percent turnout seen in presidential elections. More than 236,000 people statewide cast their ballots early this year, more than double the number from the previous midterm election in 2010.

Today's ballot has 14 constitutional amendments in addition to the statewide Senate race, District 6 congressional race, and other local positions. Voting officials said people have only three minutes once they enter the voting booth to make their selections, and they advised voters get prepared by looking up what's on the ballot before they come out to vote.